This year we do not have a lot to spend on Christmas presents. I was really bummed at first, but it has turned out to be our greatest gift because it has given us opportunity to focus on making memories and new traditions. I created an advent countdown by making small envelopes that hang on our living room wall. Each envelope contains something special to do or share throughout the 24 days before Christmas. My kids have loved this project. Everyday before we begin school, they are eager to find out what "today's envelope" contains. Special thanks to my friend Brittany and her wonderful
blog for this idea! It really has been a special time!
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| Day 1: We created the envelopes. Abby helped me sew some of them! |
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| Day 2: We packed lunches and ate on the terrace level of Demoss Hall at Liberty University. These are our pirate faces! |
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| PJ was there too...we were really high up there! :) |
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| Day 3: I let them choose a Christmas movie on Netflix. They chose this one. Um...yeah. :) |
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| Day 4: A special treat of Gingerbread marshmallows. |
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| Day 5: Craft time and snacks with Santa at the Rustburg Library. |
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| Day 6: Making Christmas cookies. We made a dozen to share with our co-op and we ate some too! |
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| Day 7: Singing Christmas Carols at Fairmont Crossing Nursing Facility with Under The Son Academy. |
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| All 3 kids look shell-shocked. :) |
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| Caleb makes friends quickly. |
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| Day 8: Caed's class Christmas party at BRCC |
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| Gingerbread houses are always fun! |
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| Day 9: Family Lego night |
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| Day 10: A play-date with friends Rinnah and Ian |
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| I forgot to take pictures, so these are cute pics from 2ish years ago. Look how they've grown! |
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| Day11: Reindeer EVERYTHING! Reindeer tp rolls, cookies and hand-prints! |
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| Day 12: Made a tent in the living room with a sheet and 4 chairs and had a camp out complete with movies, popcorn and scary "Ribbet and Croaky" (PJ Originals!) stories. |
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| Finished creations. |
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| Day 16: Movie/story night. |
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| Day 17: Christmas party for stuffed animals and super heros. Crumpets (jelly sandwiches), cookies and punch were served. After "lunch" Abby performed a play for us entitled "Superhero Special". |
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| Day 18, Part 1: Playdate with friend, Maddie! (And much needed "playdate" for Mommy with bestie, Des) |
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| Maddie singing "Jingle Bells". We love Maddie! |
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| Day 18, part 2: Christmas lights. This house in Rustburg is next to Rustburg Elementary. You park in the lot and tune your radio to 101.9 and the lights dance to the music playing in your car. It's really quite amazing! And yes, Abby is wearing a zebra print bathrobe and pink rain boots...that girl has her own style! |
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| Day 19: Made snow cones. Yum! |
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Day 20: Went to the store and picked out some candy! Yes. Caedmon is wearing a bathrobe (see Day 18). Apparently, bathrobes are all the rage this year!
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| Day 21: Dessert for breakfast! Everyday Caedmon asks if he can have
dessert for breakfast. Today, I said YES! They were so excited! It's
just one day a year, right? :) |
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| Day 22: We baked 5 dozen oatmeal-peanut butter-chocolate chip-m&m cookies and delivered them to our neighbors. |
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| Day 23: Wii game night. We played Mario Cart. |
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| Day 24: Today was such a treat! Our tradition is to go to Bob Evans for breakfast on Christmas Eve. We didn't think we would be able to go this year, but we were able to sell a few things on Craigslist and PJ and I made this our Christmas gift to each other! Um...this is our first restaurant visit in over 3 months! (Caleb was more interested in us saying "Cheese" than he was the camera!) |
What an amazing month this has been! We are so thankful for our many blessings. Most of all we are thankful for Jesus who gives us not only the hope of our salvation after death, but gives us hope and freedom in our now!
Merry Christmas from the Campbells!!
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